Aluminum 6 Qt Whirley-Pop Popcorn Popper

This has got to be the best popcorn maker on the planet, or anywhere else for that matter. We love popcorn and used to drag out an old frying pan to pop it in, with mixed results. Seemed the only place to get good popcorn was at the theater but we watch all our favorite movies at home. We tried "air" poppers and healthy or not I'd rather eat an old newspaper. We contemplated an electric unit but didn't want yet another large appliance taking up counter or cupboard space and I don't like that some have teflon coating that eventually will flake off. Then came Whirley-Pop. Our first batch was made using the sample theater pack shipped with the unit. It was delicious and yes just like at the movies. For the second batch we used the usual Orville's brand popcorn and oil which produced the best results we have ever had with this brand. If you love popcorn don't waste your money and time on expensive electric poppers. Get a Whirley-Pop. It's easy to use, easy to clean and makes the best popcorn you've ever had. Just follow directions closely and do not use high heat. On our electric range we use #6 on a #1 through #10 knob scale, but I don't recommend going above #7. Begin using the stirring crank immediately and stir until the crank starts to show some resistance but do not force it ( I suspect this is how some people break the gear). By this time the popping will have begun to slow and you can remove the unit from the heat and it will finish with a few more pops. Pour out the popcorn into your favorite bowl and allow it to sit for a couple minutes. Simply wipe out the pan with a paper towel and store it for reuse. I usually wash the lid and crank mechanism using dish soap. Now making popcorn is fast, easy and delicious, I wish I had bought this a long time ago.

Two tablespoons EVOO, two tablespoons of kernels (Tiny but Mighty) and 3.5 minutes later: one great bowl of popcorn. This is fun to use. The directions are clear, concise and so easy to follow. Try it and I’ll bet you’ll be hooked.

I absolutely love this product. I love using it to make popcorn. It helps to mix the butter and the flavoring while allowing the popcorn to pop evenly and not burn. If you have popcorn, I highly recommend this item. I use it at least twice a week. Easy to clean.

We bought this standard WHIRLEY-POP stovetop pocorn popper, model 25008, which is a fairly thin pan made of rolled aluminum, hand-powered by a wooden handle and crank that "whirls" popcorn and oil, boxed along with instructions and a sample of the maker's popcorn, popcorn salt and popcorn oil. Our first outing used the sample provided; per instructions we had seasoned the pan with a little oil and the actual "whirling" took only about three minutes before we had a pan full of popcorn that tasted a great deal like movie-theater popcorn and yielded practically no "old maids." In essence this product looks a little like, and acts very much like, a smaller version of a cinema popcorn maker, right down to the two hinged semicircular lids on top -- one side is unclasped and will pour popped corn out without fiddling with the popper, the other side is pinned down but can be released. The second time out we made a half-order (three quarts, which is still a lot) with half measures of Pop Secret white popping corn and our own canola oil; this we dressed in a little liquid Parkay (blue bottle) and table salt. This took even less time because the quantity was less. Again, there were next to no "old maids" and the popcorn was just as fresh and crisp, but lacked that certain movie-theater taste. (On the other hand, canola oil is better for people than the coconut oil usually used in movie-theater mixtures.) All in all, the Whirley-Pop provided a nearly optimum experience for popping corn, and in a hurry. The best advice I can give is to read the manufacturer's instruction booklet, which comes packed with the unit. We use a gas range and had no trouble achieving medium heat in an instant; note that electric ranges may need a slightly higher setting but aluminum this thin should not be left on a heating electric unit, or a cooling one: it can melt. Really the price of the Whirley-Pop is quite reasonable and the popping time, if anything, is even lower than microwave popcorn, to which we have said goodbye. Pop Secret Popcorn 100% Natural Premium Jumbo Popping Corn (2 Pack) Large 30 oz Bottles

Works great; replaces one 20 years old.

I felt compelled to write a review after owning this popcorn popper for more than four years and seeing it churn out a perfect batch time after time. The manufacturer deserves praise for this product. It works just as well -- indeed slightly better -- than the day I bought it. I use a half cup of kernels and a little oil, over a gas stovetop burner on high, and it consistently makes a fully-popped batch with zero waste. I have to hunt to find a single unpopped kernel. Nothing is burnt. It's fast, extremely economical, high-performing and durable. I can't ask for anything more. Although it is lightweight aluminum, it has proven perfectly durable, even though I was a bit skeptical of the thinness of the metal and the little stirring arms when I got it. The whole family, including kids, use it. It's been dropped once or twice, too! You don't really need the heat retention of thicker metal like cast iron for popping popcorn, as long as the bottom is hot enough, which I've never had trouble obtaining. I use oil only: olive oil most times, corn oil in a pinch. I followed a reviewer's advice not to wash it with soap and water or put it in the dishwasher. All I do is wipe it out after a batch. As with cast iron, it has developed a light seasoned coating on the bottom, which enhances the non-stick quality of the bottom surface. That's why I say it works slightly better now than it did the first day. Early on I would sometimes get a kernel stuck to the bottom; now that doesn't happen at all. All popped kernels rise to the top and the unpopped fall to the bottom till it's done. And I use cheap generic popcorn most times. The gears and stirring rod still work just fine. You don't have to crank it fast. A lazy one rotation a second always works for me. If you feel a kernel slip under the stirring rod at the bottom (you'll feel a slight drag), just reverse direction and it usually comes out from underneath. I don't know if other people crank it rapidly but perhaps that leads to more wear on the gears? That said, my kids still crank it fast and I've had no problems. The only maintenance I've done on it a couple times is to bend slightly the little metal clips that secure the cover's side flaps to the pot. After many openings and closings, these can get a little loose. It's just like the metal clip that keeps a typical mailbox shut. Just press it inward slightly and it secures tightly, good as new. I don't think I'll ever go back to electric poppers or microwave bag popcorn. Microwave bag popcorn tends to burn or waste a lot, it's relatively expensive, and it's got all kinds of fake flavors I don't enjoy. (If you like those, you can always buy "movie theater" flavored oil at the store.) Popping our own corn, everyone can add whatever amount of butter, salt, etc. they like. I've owned a few electric models, and besides being noisy, they're slower, they've failed after a few years, and while better than microwave bags, electrics still tend to spit unpopped kernels into the bowl. And if you have kids, you might know the drill with electric poppers: if the bowl gets bumped, the butter-melter is removed, the lid knocked accidentally, popcorn goes flying everywhere. Whirley-Pop is tidy. Of course you have to watch younger kids if they're novices using the stove. But compared to an electric popper, I've gotten a far better return on my investment with Whirley-Pop. It's simple, so there's far less to break: no switches to fail, fans to break down, or coils to burn out. Storing it is easier too. There's no parts to keep track of -- it stores as a unit under the cupboard. Again, a boon with kids. The only "pro tip" I've developed is to pour in the oil, then the kernels, crank it once or twice to spread them out and coat them with oil, then give it a little side-to-side shake. The stirring arm tends to push the kernels all to the outside initially. Shake it a little, and you get a nice even layer of kernels on the bottom. Then apply heat. I leave it heating like that, without stirring but giving an occasional little shake, for the first minute or two until the first pop -- all the kernels heat evenly and tend to pop more at one time. What really gets them all going, however, is that there's a cascade when the steam escaping from popping kernels creates more heat energy in the pot. This might be why electric poppers take so long -- they're blowing out all the heat energy they've generated in the bowl converting water to steam, whereas Whirley-Pop confines it as steam for cooking. Just take care to have your hand aside when dumping the batch out, since steam will escape if you dump it immediately, which I tend to do -- either because the gas stove burner grid still retains a lot of heat even when the burner is off or sometimes I'm overzealous in measuring a half-cup and it starts to get jam-packed. But in this case, just dump from the top and keep going, and everything turns out fine. All-in-all, this machine has been fabulous: works flawlessly, extremely economical, easy to maintain, and durable. If ever it breaks, which I don't expect, I'd buy another one immediately.

There were a lot of stressed out reviewers of this (and related) products. The gears, the metal, the lid, yadda, yadda. OK, it's cheap, but it works and it makes great popcorn quite easily. Based on reviews, I bought this one with nylon gears and not the one with metal gears. The thought of metal shavings in my popcorn kept me away from what would otherwise seem like a worthy upgrade. The nylon gears can be easily lubed with vegetable oil, and they don't bind at all. Just take it easy. Turn gently. Don't force it if the popcorn gets jammed. Just shake the handle and wiggle the crank back and forth. You don't have to constantly turn the crank. For the most part, the popping alone makes the popped kernels got to the top and the unpopped kernels fall to the bottom. The lid comes off with some dexterity, so you can clean it, but we only rinse or wipe it out. I've never gone to the extreme of getting it commercial-kitchen clean. It doubt if it would pass a commercial kitchen inspection because it probably wouldn't hold up in a Hobart dishwasher. But if you're willing to treat it gently, you will be happy with the function of this product, especially considering the price. Yes, the metal is thin, and the top is even thinner, but it's sufficient, doesn't waste material, isn't heavy (my kids can use it just fine) and the lid fits securely. No surprises. I would recommend this if you're done with noisy air poppers and hate the unpopped kernels from microwave popping. I won't even discuss the gross fat-encased pre-made microwave packages that are so popular these days. This device will leave at most one or two unpopped kernels as long as your corn is fresh and hasn't been allowed to dry out (the internal moisture is what makes kernels pop). Use peanut oil (it won't smoke and cause the popcorn to have an off-taste) and don't use too much heat! We use about 20% on the dial of the smaller front burner of our gas range. Just start low and work up if you have to. No sense in scorching your popcorn. It will taste better at the lowest effective heat. I suspect you could melt this entire pot if you put it on the highest heat. I have no complaints about this purchase whatsoever.

I was wary of buying this because of the reviews warning about the plastic gears. But I did buy it because I wanted good popcorn! (And this thing sure makes it!!) I am just careful with it. If the turning mechanism seems "stuck", I reverse the direction I am turning, or jiggle the handle (or pot) a little to get it to move easily again. I do NOT put too much pressure on the crank. I don't try to turn it too fast either, we are just moving popcorn here, not making meringue! ha ha!! I do about one rotation a second. Near the end of popping, there is just too much popcorn and too little room for agitating. So I lift the entire pot and shake it to help any unpopped ones filter down to the bottom. I then turn off the heat and let the residual temperature of the pan, surrounding corn, and stove help pop the potential "old maids" for a few seconds while I set out the bowls. Most kernels do pop that way and I usually only end up with say 10-15 in the entire pot. You can feel when the stirrer doesn't want to move, and I know I could try to force it, but why ruin my popper? Even if there WERE metal gears, something else likely would torque or bend if you push too hard. So I use it as designed, not as a concrete mixer! I am currently using the Great Northern 4-Ounce Portion Packs which are super easy. Cut the top, dump it all in, and stir. Medium to a touch higher, but not-high heat. The packets have the oil, the corn, and the flavored salt already measured for me. There may come a time when I want to experiment with mixing my own proportions of corn, oil, salt, possibly sugar, etc., but I am happy with the results I am getting with those packets. In about 5 minutes, I have a kettle full of popcorn for my family to share (or to eat all by myself!! ha ha!!) It is SOOO much crunchier than microwave! And doesn't really involve that much more work or time. The 4 ounce packs fill my popper to the top. I also bought Wabash's Butter Flavored Topping . Now, I am a "real" butter fan for many things, but it just isn't right for popcorn, it sort of deflates it! Without the topping, the popcorn reminds you of the dry sort you often get in those cardboard boxes at a circus or fair, but sometimes I want the decadent movie kind!! I put the topping in a squeeze bottle like this . I dump a little corn, squirt a drizzled layer of topping, shake maybe a little more popcorn salt (I also bought extra Flavacol to experiment with...sometimes I like it salty, and repeat the layers of corn, topping, salt...sorta like a popcorn lasagne! ha! It is AWESOME!I lift the lid and shake a little to get the popcorn to come out...it is kind of packed in there at the beginning of pouring! I do wash mine. Sometimes we make popcorn a few days in a row and I don't. I don't even bother wiping it out! I just dump any leftover "skins" or kernels, and add a new packet. Usually though I wash the bottom (the top is completely removable) like any other dish. Regular dish soap and hot water. I don't re-season...nothing sticks. For the top, I use the soapy sponge on the flat parts, but there are too many cracks and corners to get into without spending 15 minutes on it (which I don't do.) I just let my tap water get as hot as possible and just sort of run it over the lid to melt off the splattered oil in those places. I don't submerge the thing, and I usually just let it air dry. If you put it back on your warm stove, it helps dry it more quickly. (However, I don't always do dishes right away...I am more interested in EATING the popcorn that silly dishes! they can wait!) It looks as shiny and new as when I got it (mine did arrive with a light scratch on the outside, it was so minor that I just kept it.) The ONLY thing that I haven't seen mentioned in reviews, is that it is designed for right-handed people. Now of course you can turn it 180 degrees and crank with your left hand, but when you pick it up that way to pour, the lid with no latch is on top! (One side of the lid has a latch to hold it closed, the other side doesn't.) I have tried to unlatch it (and it is HOT) but then the other top-half flops open and the popcorn spills out of both sides. Also, the handle is attached to the LID (not the pot) so there is no way to reverse it. I just stir and pour with my right hand...most lefties know well that we often just have to adapt to a right-handed world! :D The awesome popcorn is worth it.